Water issues faced by Pakistan
The alarming water issues that
require immediate solutions are, Water
shorter, hydro-power shortage, Floods, rapid silting of reservoirs, preventing
salinity in the Indus basin, one million small tube wells indiscriminately pumping
huge ‘saline drainage effluent as groundwater’ for irrigation use that increase
salinity, Water wastage in the 150 years old, incompatible and obsolete canal
irrigation system requiring modernization, no drainage system to evacuate
salinity, undertaking Integrated Comprehensive Water Management to save water,
Water shed Management of Indus River to control Silting of reservoirs and
selecting multipurpose dam site.
General issues are;
1. The
Kalabagh Dam hydraulic design and its dam site created political and technical
controversies. The KBD Consultants recommended 100 days low-level silt sluicing hydraulic design whereas WAPDA,
under the tailored TOR insisted for 50 days restricted mid-level sluicing
design. Status quo prevailed on political controversy for 37 years as no
other dam was considered to be built though feasibility of Basha was ready in
1981, about 31 years ago. Basha Dam will take another 10 years. The result for absence of dam is flood
havoc of 2010, crippling load shedding, water shortage and economic
destruction. More floods are expected in the absence of Katzarah Dam, Guroh Dop Dam and Raised
Fateh Barrage. Kalabagh is not the dam site as its capacity-inflow ratio
indicates. There is best site for raised barrage only three miles upstream of
KBD—with a unique combination of low dam and barrage over it. I prepared unique
substitute for KBD in 1994. It is now resubmitted.
2. Climate
change is a serious threat. It will affect rivers flow. First more river
discharge and in the second phase less discharge. The building of dams for both
phases is a dire necessary. Plan multipurpose dams to increase greenery. I
recommend the 35 maf Katzarah Dam and the 8.5 maf Guroh Dop Dams. If Kazarah is not built, Pakistan will lose
two-third of its storage potential, waste floodwater and India would assume we
do not need water.
3. Has
any Master plan for flood control, hydropower generation and silt control
projects conceived? If so, name the feasible dams with storage capacity.
4. Rapid
silting of reservoirs is the greatest danger to the useful life of our limited
reservoirs. There are no dam sites on Kabul, Jehlum and Chenab Rivers. Tarbela
and Mangla gross storage silted up by 6.5 maf that affected IWT replacement
storage, the Water Accord and created shortage of water. It affects agriculture
production. Had any steps for Water shed management taken to reduce silt in the
Indus? This is necessary to increase life of Basha Dam and other on its
downstream. The source of silt in the Indus, according to the study conducted
by Dr Attaullah, appointed by the World Bank, is the highly erodible soil of Skardu valley. Katzarah will submerge
the silt generating area in Skardu valley, stop silt flow by working as Water
shed Management Dam. Please seriously consider it. Katzarah is recommended by the Government of Sindh,
and the Parliamentary and Technical Committees appointed by the President. In
this respect, I do not agree with the views of WAPDA to ignore Katzarah on the
grounds that Baltic culture will be submerged. The unique technical merits of
Katzarah cannot be ignored. Moreover,
the Government should make decision to build or not to build Katzarah and not
WAPDA after considering its unique and multipurpose technical merits. WAPDA
is habitual in creating controversies from day one. Will WAPDA prefer that
Pakistan should go water scarce, its 18 crores population may suffer hunger,
but Baltic culture should not be displaced? Should 35 maf floodwater go waste
by not building Katzarah? Can two-third water storage potential be
sacrificed? Which technical flaws
WAPDA has found in Katzarah? This shows WAPDA must jointly work with IRSA at
Islamabad.
5.
IRSA declared its storage water requirement as 22 maf.
Which feasible dams would create 22 maf of storage? WAPDA should name the dams
without Katzarah.
6. Please
note that Akhori Dam is rejected by Dr Pieter Lieftnick as stated in his report
Vol-I on the grounds that it has weak foundation for a dam height of 250 feet,
but now WAPDA has raised its height to 420 feet, increasing storage capacity,
involving huge water diversion in short period, ignoring Dr Lieftnick’s recommendations. Akhori involves earthwork more than two times
of Tarbela Dam. Moreover, Dr Pieter Lieftnic says, to divert huge Indus water
in two months, the height of Tarbela Dam shall have to be raised by 15 feet. Is
that possible?
7. Water
Accord paras 2, 4, 6, 7, 14 (e) of IRSA
Act is not implemented for the past 20 years. On the contrary about 6.5 maf
of gross storage is lost due to rapid silting. Thus water shortage problem is
not yet solved. Let IRSA and WAPDA jointly work at Islamabad to solve issues.
8. IRSA
is responsible to implement Water Accord under para 13, but it is given no
powers. IRSA should be given powers. At the same time, WAPDA Head quarter may
be shifted to Islamabad for close coordination with IRSA to implement Water
Accord and to replenish lost storage to revive IWT and remove water shortage.
This is why Chairman WAPDA is made ex-officio Member IRSA. On the expiry of the
present non-professional Chairman WAPDA, the next Chairman should be
experienced irrigation engineer to actively participate and foresee these water
issues and help solving them. I recommend Riaz Ahmad Khan Advisor—the most
suitable and experienced water resource engineer who knows these problems.
9. Prepare
a Master plan to control floods, solve
water shortage, hydro-power shortage, rapid silting of reservoirs, salinity,
and water wastage. It is direly essential to save huge wastage of water in
the canal system that is 150 year old,
incompatible and obsolete wasting about 45 to 50 maf of water. Moreover,
new area is also to be brought under irrigation, preferably
Kachi plain, to meet food needs of the expanding population. It is IRSA,
WAPDA and PARC joint responsibility to avoid delay. I discovered Khajuri Kach
dam site in 1959, started work on it but WAPDA delayed its completion till
2012.
10. It is
surprising that the world’s largest contiguous canal irrigation system is
without its integral component of drainage
system to control and remove saline drainage effluent. The canal irrigation
system requires protection against salinity, sodicity and water logging.
Drainage is essential part of irrigation, but
is missing. Tile drainage will protect land from getting infertile
otherwise water will be of no use
when Indus basin goes saline waste.
11. Two mega
drainage projects of SCARPs and NDP based on wrong project concept of tube well
to evacuate and control salinity failed one after the other. Later on, these
were abandoned. It appears nobody could conceive the correct technical definitions of Drainage. Similar
is the case of defining Irrigation, Leaching and Water Management. I can
provide recognized technical definitions to correctly conceive project concept
if asked for. Projects should be prepared as per their technical definitions,
adopting correct project concept. Therefore, it is vital that Food and
Agriculture department, WAPDA, IRSA must jointly work at Islamabad as water is
basic input of agriculture.
12. Farmers
after knowing that groundwater is available installed more than one million
private small tube wells, indiscriminately pumping about 50 maf of injurious
saline drainage effluent as
groundwater for irrigation. This injurious drainage effluent injects about 350
million tons of injurious salts each year into the soil rendering it infertile.
The process of salinity is going on gradually and invisibly. The Indus basin is
turning into saline waste. Over and above, the one million tube wells could be
consuming about 2000 MW of power.
13. Lacy canal
system has become obsolete and highly wasteful besides incompatible to meet
intensive crop water requirements in time and in proper dozes. Silting shows
canal has failed. It needs modernization by carrying out integrated comprehensive water management (ICWM) as per its true
definition. The canal system may need redesigning as per Mannings Formula with
silt carrying velocity. Let us consider If 20 maf of water is saved by lining
the obsolete canal system, then,
will it be possible to use the saved water to bring new area outside the
command or the saved water used on the existing crops? Moreover, the one million miles of water
courses be replaced by pipe supply
to avoid seepage losses, evaporation losses and theft. Use sprinkler and drip
irrigation methods to save more water. Abandoned the wasteful and obsolete Warabandi. This will again save water
with in the old command area. How and where to use the saved water? All water
losses are to be removed in view of para 14 ( e ) of the Water Accord – a legal
binding. Therefore, ICWM is necessary.
Indian
water threat is hanging over our heads as India has built 32 water projects.
14.
Salinity and sodicity is a great problem. This
needs control by maintaining water table and evacuating excessive salts out of
the area. This requires surface and
sub-service tile drainage. After leaching the soil, evacuating salinity,
reclaiming land, the return drainage effluent from the reclaimed soil would be
useable for irrigation on the downstream.
15. All natural
drains in the country are blocked by encroachments in violation of the Canal and Drainage Act of 1857. This
needs revival. Sindh is a drainage bowl
of the Indus basin. I understand flood water of 2010 and rainwater 2011 is
still standing in pockets as natural drains are encroached.
16. All
Pakistan Grand Canal from Chashma barrage proposed by me in 1961 was ignored.
The gravity flow canal would have passed through Sibi Town, irrigating the
whole of Kachi plain, besides other provinces. Kachi canal from Mithan Kot failed
due to poor planning, and now is taken off from Taunsa barrage still depriving
large area of Baluchistan. Is Chashma site not a great loss forever? Can we do
something now?
17. I
understand there are huge losses (about 16 maf) due to theft/unauthorized water
use in Indus River from Chashma to Kotri. Investigate these losses. Indus River
needs channelization after building Basha Dam and Katzarah Dam. It will reclaim
about 3 to 3.5 million acres of fertile land from its 14 miles wide waterway.
Grow forest on recovered land.
18. Pakistan is
not a member of the UN Watercourses
Convention. Why? Get membership.
It will help solving water issues with
disputing countries like India and next Afghanistan.
Recommendations
Such series of meetings for the
first time, have initiated steps to solve chronic water issues under the chair
of Riaz Ahmad Khan, technical advisor and other experts from all professional
organizations -- a right step to solve chronic issues. I would also recommend hiring foreign
company, like HARZA for detailed preparation of projects. HARZA worked in the
Indus basin for 40 years as General Consultants to the Ministry of Water, and
WAPDA. Let they work on new projects with IRSA to implement Water Accord and
solve other water issues. Alternately, Chinese Consultants be considered. The
current discussion will prove more helpful if written views are given by the
participants in case where they
disagree. Money or no money, project concept for solving water issues must
be conceived and be ready. There should be
Constitutional provision to solve these issues in 5 year plans each Government.
Political parties should include this in their mandate. This implementation
falls under Article 38 of the
Constitution that may further be amended.
It is surprising that Army has banned the issue of GTS maps from the Survey of Pakistan.
Water Resource Engineers cannot plan without the GTS maps. The ban should be
removed from Engineers. They should be allowed to place indents on the Survey
of Pakistan as before. I found GTS maps
as seven wonder of the world. A gift left by the British.
Engr. Fateh ullah
Khan Gandapur Dated
May 26, 2012
Former Chairman IRSA
Mobile 0300-5920641.
Investigation of John Kerry alarming report
on India acquiring ability to store enough water at critical moment in the
growing season. perennial Replenishment of 6.5 maf replacement storage by India
lost to silting, and unaccounted storage created by India under technical
definitions.
Indus Waters Treaty.
In the last meeting the Commissioner Indus Waters Treaty Pakistan
informed the committee that India has not created more live storage on our
rivers in 32 hydraulic structures, including dams. He said that water stored by
India is even less than what is allowed under the Treaty. It is however
surprising that all the Daily News papers like DAWN and the NEWS report that
India has created much more live storage than as allowed in the 32 hydraulic
structures including big dams. At the same time US Senator John Kerry alarming report
to US Senate on India acquiring ability to store enough water at critical
moment for Rabi and early Kharif indicates scarcity of water to be created by India
by holding enough water, as India can limit the supply of water to Pakistan.
How one should estimate the quantity of “enough
water” that India could with hold to affect Pakistan Rabi supplies that
range between 36 to 38 maf? Excerpt from John Kerry report is;
“India has acquired
the ability to store enough water to limit the supply of water to Pakistan at
critical moment in the growing season”
Senator John Kerry feared water war on this account. It
therefore indicates substantial storage. Present water availability situation
indicates that there is more than 40 per
cent water shortage at the critical moment in this growing season. This
creates doubt though one may blame climate change. IRSA has therefore called
Advisory Committee meeting on 5th June to examine the water situation.
John Kerry report indicates creation of enough storage that may affect
Rabi and early Kharif. There is therefore need to find true situation,
In order to know the truth, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs may
write to India how much live storage India
created from all unaccountable hidden sources under technical definitions.
I believe unaccountable hidden storage is created by India in the guise of technical definitions, such
as, pondage, surcharge storage, operating pool and run-of-river even that
includes pond. India may be requested to let us know the aggregate storage
on account of technical definitions. This is necessary to know as India does
not count storage in this form. The Treaty allows 2.85 maf of water storage to
India on our rivers whereas India has created large storage under these
definitions as part of design and not as violation of Treaty. India has
acquired the ability to store enough water to affect our Rabi and early Kharif
crops. The present water shortage has created doubt that India may have created
extra storage by adopting a technical trick. The height of dam and its hydraulic
design is fixed by India according to their discretion. The Government may investigate
to know what John Kerry means by enough
water, and how much more storage water, India created under the definitions
that are unaccounted.
The storage created under the technical definitions may
apply to multipurpose big storage dam but
not to a project on run-of-river. The 2.85 maf water storage allowed under
the Treaty should also include unaccounted storage created under the technical
definitions.
The second issue
is Replacement storage created under
the Treaty at Tarbela and Mangla have already silted up by 6.5 maf. This has rendered the Treaty inefficacious. The lost replacement storage needs perennial Replenishment to revive
the Treaty. Please examine this aspect in detail. The Foreign Ministry may take
up the case with India on the two issues.
18 chronic Water issues to be seriously studied.
Besides the above, the 18 vital water issues raised by me
may be discussed point by point to reach joint and definite conclusions. Anyone
who differs may submit his views in writing. Verbal views have no record.
Engr Fateh ullah
Khan. Gandapur.
Former Chairman IRSA
Dated
31.5.2012
Mobile 0300-5920641
Copy to all Members with reference to the Secretary Water
and Power letter No W1-4(20)/2011 dated May 31, 2012 for examination in the
light of John Kerry report that India built 32 hydraulic projects including
dams and the unknown aggregate storage created by India in these hydraulic
structures in the guise of technical terms or definitions like, pondage,
surcharge storage, operating pool and
run-of-river.
The repercussions created by 6.5 maf silting of Tarbela and
Mangla may also be discussed what next step is to be taken for their perennial
replenishment as we surrendered perennial flow to India
.
The allowable storage to be created by India under the
Treaty includes all other storage created by the running of hydraulic structures.
Copy to Secretary Water and Power for information.
Copt to Riaz Ahmad Khan Technical Advisor WAPDA House Lahore
for information. I request written views of Members may be recorded who have
different views for record. The meetings may continue till all 18 water issues
are discussed and conclusion arrived.
Warning
The country severely suffers from severe load shedding, this
destroyed economy. The country suffers from acute water shortage, rapid silting
of reservoirs, injurious salinity and sodicity, devastating floods, huge water
losses. It suffers from wrong planning and inefficiency that creates indefinite
controversies. KBD controversy, Kachi Canal shifting alignment, wrong project
concepts adopted in SCARPs, NDP, lack of sub-surface and sub-surface drainage,
and no water management. These water issues and others are to be solved.
To,
The
Secretary,
Ministry of
Water and Power, Government
Government
of Pakistan, Islamabad.
Subject- Articles written
by MR. Fatehullah Khan Gandapur pointing 18 water issues.
Reference Secretary Water and Power letter No. W1-4(20)/2011
dated May 31, 2012
I am attaching 18
serious Water and Power issues for solution. Each issue is as serious as
the present energy shortage/load shedding that ruined the country. These issues
are besides the issue of 6.5 maf
replacement storage lost to silting in the IWT and the unaccountable storage created by India under technical definitions
given in Appendix-D of the Treaty.
The Kalabagh Dam’s 37 years bitter controversy, and the
absence of dams for 37+10=47 years, has caused devastating floods in 2010 and
the present crippling load shedding that destroyed economy besides creating
water shortage. Basha Dam feasibility
was established in 1981 but WAPDA did not build it under its policy of
“Kalabagh Dam or no other dam”.
I have conceived a unique hydraulic design as substitute for Kalabagh Dam with unique
benefits, costing about $2.5 to 3 billion. The
project involves no land acquisition, no land compensation and no population
moment. The project consists of 100 feet low dam with 60 feet barrage on
its crest. The dead storage created by the 100 feet dam will silt up and the
barrage will create 3.4 maf live storage
to be repeatedly filled as the annual flow is about 93 maf. It will
generate about 1500 to 6000 MW of hydropower on run-of-river to be completed in
3 years. The reservoir will be within the Indus River valley up to RL 860 feet.
The resevoir will extent to 7 miles short of Attock gorge in the valley. The
site of Raised Fateh Barrage is
about 3 miles on the upstream of Kalabagh Dam site within the Indus River
valley at elevation 700. The project would be free of controversy.
The multipurpose Raised barrage would serve as short term,
face saving, water and power project far better than KBD.
The Raised barrage as substitute for KBD, is one of the 18
water issues, requiring discussions, solutions and implementation. It is
surprising that out 12 top organizations that deal with water for Agriculture are
silent about these water issues. Status quo prevails.
Engr. Fateh ullah
Khan Gandapur June 3, 2012
Former Chairman IRSA
Copt to;
Riaz Ahmad Khan
Technical Advisor, WAPDA Lahore. In conclusion, the Committee may give its
brief recommendations to the Ministry on each issue for further action.
Chairman IRSA. IRSA may indicate how would it meet its 22 maf
storage requirement? IRSA is responsible for the regulation of Indus flows, and
the storage dams form part of Indus water regulation. It is suggested that WAPDA
Head quarter may be shifted to Islamabad for close coordination with IRSA in
implementing Water Accord. For this reason, the IRSA Act made Chairman WAPDA as
ex-officio Member IRSA. Both organizations should be at one station. The IRSA
Act also indicates that Chairman WAPDA should be professional to actively
participate in complicated technical discussions.
Minister for Water
and Power may take serious notice of these issues. Lesson should be learnt
from 2010 flood devastation and the crippling load shedding. These issues may
be solved with Constitutional support in view of Article 38.
Copy to: Minister for
Foreign Affairs. The storage issues created by the silting of replacement
storage of 6.5 maf under IWT at Tarbela and Mangla need settlement. The unaccountable
storage created by India under the technical definitions in Appendix – D for
the 32 hydraulic structures built by India including dams may be asked from
India.
Senator John Kerry report to US senate on water shortage
created by India in 32 hydropower generation projects is very alarming as he
fears water war between Pakistan and India. It therefore needs investigation what
it practically means? An excerpt from the report is;
“India has acquired the ability to store
enough water to limit the supply of water to Pakistan at critical moment in the
growing season”.
Please derive the
sense out of John Kerry report what it means.
Rod-Kohi area of Kulachi Tehsil has
floodwater rights in
Gomal Zam Dam. Water rights area of Rod-Kohi under
Gomal Zam Dam cannot be ignored from irrigation in view of Riwaj-abpashi if storage
water is available
Rod-Kohi area has
water rights in Gomal Zam. No one can deny these water rights after controlling
floodwater of Gomal Zam Dam. Floodwater after storage belongs to Rod-Kohi area.
Therefore no Rod-Kohi area should remain un commanded. The network of canal
system should include this left over water rights area. The Rod–Kohi area
covers almost the entire area of Kulachi Tehsil subject to the quantity of
water available each year. As a matter of principle the water rights area must form
project boundary. The network of canals should be planned to cover the entire
area that has water rights under Rod-Kohi. The Rod-Kohi area has legal water
rights under the Rewaj-ab-pashi. The Rod-Kohi irrigation means floodwater
irrigation from hill torrents. Water to the new area can only be given after
covering the entire Rod-Kohi area.
There are two types of water rights. The one area almost gets
perennial water on a very small scale and the other area under Rod-Kohi gets
floodwater that is now stored. Both the types of areas have the rights in
storage water of Gomal Zam. New area if any should be given the last priority. Project
Manager letter reveals that about 66000 hecters of land would be covered by the
project. 66000 Hecter of land is a lot of land. This is equal to about 163,000
acres of land. Moreover, if sprinkler
and drip irrigation for irrigation is used, water will be saved and then water may
extend to new areas. All this should be planned from day one. Extension of the
system later on would be a severe problem. The infighting may be bloody.
It is not understood why some water rights area is ignored of
its water rights by the project planners. I believe this must be due to
ignorance. This will result in bloodshed as no one would be ready that its area
under Rod-Kohi is ignored. After the construction of dam, the price of land has
raised from about 20-50 rupees per Kanal to Rs 35000- per Kanal and will
further increase.
The Project Director has revealed that revenue record shows
that 107 Mouzas have water rights on Gomal Zam, against this, 67 Mouzas have
been considered in the planning of irrigation system within the project
boundary. It is said this blunder is committed by the then Government of NWFP. It
needs correction at the earliest. Water should not be released till then
otherwise burning problem would be created.
During the planning of irrigation system, it was estimated
that the average inflow is 674 Mm/year, whereas, the network of canal system
within the project boundary is estimated to use only 400Mm/year. This shows the
remaining inflow of 200Mm/year will remain unutilized in the system. It appears
that the water rights area of Rod-Kohi is ignored. This may now be set right.
It will be impossible to extend the canal irrigation system
to the area once ignored as the US aid will stop. Now there is chance to revise
the project and continue getting aid from USA for the water rights area ignored.
Once the US aid stops, it will be impossible to extend the project. The farmer
then would never allow extending the system. The upper riparian will think
their water rights are being usurped to favor lower area. Besides this, there
will be no money. I am of the opinion that the work should continue till all water
rights area is brought under canal system using 674 Mm/Year.
The area having water rights in Rod-Kohi floodwater cannot
be ignored when 200Mm/year water is available.
I may inform you that I discovered the Khajuri Katch dam site
on Gomal River in 1959. But WAPDA could not complete Gomal Zam even in 2012
though the initial work at dam site was started by me in 1959. The work on old
dam site on upper most reach of Gomal River was abandoned. Now in this project,
as I understand more than one-third of the project area that has water rights in
floodwater in Gomal Zam is ignored. This
means, the project is made inherently disputable from day one. This dispute which
may take very long time must be avoided as stored water is time-based and very precious. Irrigation of this area will
change the very life pattern of the people by removing poverty.
The area needs rapid development by mechanized farming. It
needs cultivation by modern lines. The people have land in pieces. I suggest
some sort of partnership with investors, especially the Arab world. The farmers
should give land say for 40 or 50 years and the investors may do the rest of
all developments. The investor share as fixed in cash or in kind may be taken
away by them. The ownership of land will remain with the owners. He will get
benefit according to his share of land. Let economist improve the suggestion.
Engr. Fateh ullah khan
Former Chairman IRSA.
Mobile 0300-5920641 Dated June 7. 2012
To,
Riaz Ahmad Khan, Technical Advisor, GM
(C&M) water WAPDA,Wapda House Lahore
Subject. Articles written by Mr Fateh ullah Khan
Gandapur
Reference Secretary Water
and Power letter NoW1-4(20)/2011 dated May, 2012
My views after two meetings on 18 water issues (copies of
issues sent to all) were discussed hastily and superficially in about 4 to 5
hours in two sittings. Each issue in consequences is as serious as the floods
of 2010 and the ongoing crippling load shedding. The committee discussed some
issues swiftly, where WAPDA representative was arguing as an advocate to defend
the crimes of his client. This is not the way to decide the fate of each burning
issue costing billions of dollars, involving the economy, the food needs, and
existence of the country, and the well fair of the people.
All the 18 Water issues are very serious. The severe load
shedding is about to create bloody revolution. WAPDA is responsible for the
devastation of floods of 2010, the current power shortage, the water shortage, and
the rapid silting of Terbela Reservoir. for not allowing the building of Basha
Dam whose feasibility was established in 1981. WAPDA stuck to its ego for building
Kalabagh Dam with tailored TOR for
building the Left bank canal with 15,000 cusecs discharge for Punjab. Refer to KBD
Project report June 1991. WAPDA fixed wrong dam site at Kalabagh with tailored
design that was kept secret from the then Government of NWFP for its wrong, restricted mid-level silt sluicing
hydraulic design and the left bank canal. WAPDA did not allow building of another
dam in 37 years, when 4 dams could be built in 37 years. This negligence caused
devastation. WAPDA did that with the nation which the terrorists could not do.
Besides the above, Kachi canal planed by
WAPDA failed, SCARPs failed, NDP failed, Kalabagh made controversial by
selecting and fixing dam at wrong site with
wrong design and now the 35 maf, unique
Katzarah Dam is made controversial by frightening the people of the area, the authorities
of Northern areas, and the Government of Pakistan. WAPDA hides merits and announces
demerits.
In case of Katzarah
Dam discovered by me in1960-61 and repeatedly pointed out to WAPDA, WAPDA
only prepared its wrong and exaggerated
environmental aspect with a view to show that it is not feasible
environmentally. WAPDA did not touch the
unique, one in four, technical benefits of 35maf storage that is 6 times of
KBD, controlling flood in the Indus, huge power generation and the unique
benefit of controlling silt from Skardu valley that would increase life span of
all downstream reservoirs. Pakistan has no major reservoirs except
Katzarah, Basha and Guroh Dop. All other reservoirs are either very small or
problematic. There is no dam site on Kabul River, Jehlum River and Chenab
River. Indus is the only river and Katzarah is the only unique dam site on the
Indus that would also work as water shed management dam. Let WAPDA study my
articles on Katzarah Dam, Guroh Dop Dam,
Mirkhani Dam and Fateh barrage sent to all concerned. Please get copies
from IRSA or the Secretary Water and Power. Similarly get copies of the
remaining issues from IRSA or the Ministry.
It is the duty of WAPDA to investigate the technical merits and demerits of each project, specially the
Katzarah Dam, Fateh barrage, Guroh Dop Dam and Mirkhani Dam. It is for the
Government to make decision to build the project or not after judging its
merits and demerits and after obtaining views of foreign consultants. WAPDA has
no authority to reject a project on its own on exaggerated environment issue
and not touching a bit of its multipurpose unique merits. This proves WAPDA’s
psyche of negative tendency and obstinacy. It is surprising that during the
foundation ceremony of Basha, the unique Katzarah was not pointed to the Prime
Minister when he was in that very locality.
The unique Katzarah Dam.
It is a unique, one
in four project with almost indefinite life span. It creates 35 maf
storage, six times KBD, generates cheap hydropower, controls 100 per cent floods
in the Indus, and controls silt to increase life of all downstream reservoirs.
Basha life will increase from 80 years to 700 years. Tarbala remaining life
will increase by 40 to 45 years. Katzarah
will implement Water Accord by meeting its 22 maf storage requirement. It will replenish 6.5 maf replacement storage
lost. Why WAPDA has shut its eyes to these unique technical merits. Contrary to
this, WAPDA is frightening the local residents and is creating KBD type of
controversy. Please compare the well being of 18 crores population at the cost
of submergence of silt releasing Skardu valley. It’s the Government job to make
decision for building Katzarah and not WAPDA. My report on Katzarah Dam may be examined in details.
Fateh Barrage
Basically this short term project is substitute for the
controversial KBD to bring peace between
the fighting provinces. The KBD project consultants have also indicated to provide unrestricted low-level silt
sluicing hydraulic structure replacing the KBD dictated design. The
consultants meant high barrage. A 260 feet high dam suffers from silting
problem as reported by the KBD consultants. The consultants have also indicated
to reduce its height from 260 feet to 160 feet because of weak foundation. Fateh
barrage will cost $2 billion and completed in 2.5 years. It will function as balancing reservoir for Tarbela reservoir when more
power is needed at Tarbela. WAPDA estimated
power generation of Fateh barrage as 1366 MW. Actually it is much more.
It’s a run-of-river project, will create minimum to maximum power depending on
the river flow. KBD planned to irrigate
Laki Marwat area from the KBD lake through tunnel. Fateh Barrage will also cover
the same area and not Karak as mentioned by WAPDA. Please refer to “Introducing Kalabagh Dam Project” Report June , 1991
issued by WAPDA. WAPDA cheating may be noticed that in 10 days it has
counted the population of the area and the numbers of villages that will be
submerged. All this is jugglery of words to depict projects infeasible. The reservoir is confined to steep hill where
it is not possible for the villages to develop. This is only stated to shelve
the project initiated by me that hurts WAPDA ego—a strong mafia.
Moreover, the storage water will be released during the
period of low supplies. Every now and then freshets come that will be stored. How
can the reservoir be empty from October to May? Is the Indus River dry? Will this
be the situation with KBD? Hydrology of KBD and Fateh barrage is the same. Storage
water will properly be regulated. Investigation will reveal facts. WAPDA should
not form opinion on its whim. I may
inform you that at elevation 880, the gross storage is 4.4 maf and even then the
reservoir will be short of Attock gorge. The gross storage of 4.4 maf created by Fateh barrage is equal to the
joint gross storage of Bunji, Dasu, Munda, Kurram Tangi Dams. Is this not
something unique? We can easily create storage upto 4.4 maf instead of 3.4 maf. We can further go up to Elevation
900 for storing 6 maf or so. In that case the reservoir will reach Attock
Gorge. Investigation will reveal the quantity
of reasonable storage. The barrage involves no silting problem and backwater
flow as KBD. It will cost very low. WAPDA arguments are unreliable. Please get
opinion of foreign consultants. Refer to storage capacity curve prepared by
WAPDA that can help to decide the quantity of reasonable storage.
Akhori Dam
WAPDA tries to prove that Dr Pieter Lieftnic report on
Akhori is wrong. I do not agree with WAPDA. Dr Lieftnick clearly says Gariala
site is preferred to Akhori. For this, he gives reasons. Let the Government
decide if it agrees with Dr Lieftnic or WAPDA. Dr Lieftnic has pointed out many
drawbacks which seem to be serious. WAPDA is habitual in planning wrong projects
such as Kachi Canal, SCARPs, NDP, KBD etc. all that miserably failed and
billions of rupees wasted. Why, no
inquiry was made for these failures? We must know the causes of failure for
accountability and for getting wise.
Please refer to page 266 of Dr Pieter Lieftnic report Vol 1,
revealing that Tarbela height will be raised for diverting water.
“ For any such undertakings, Tarbela would have to be built to elevation 1565 feet in order to
facilitate the transference of water across the divide”
“For 3.3 maf storage it is evident that an inordinate amount
of earth moving would be involved and that serious foundation problems would be
encountered. The Akhori project was deemed less favorable than Gariala. (page
267).
“To convey the Indus water from Tarbela to Gariala; a canal
some five miles long, with a capacity of 76000 cusecs, would be constructed
from the Siran arm of the Tarbela reservoir”
“ See page 292. Akhori is superseded by Gariala”.
The channel to divert
water will remain dry for 9 months and 20 days.
There is no surety that in 20 days the reservoir would be
filled to designed capacity.
In view of above muddy situation, a fair and sound opinion
about these projects can only be given by
hiring known foreign consultants. They may be asked to prepare only the
very preliminary feasibility reports of these four projects. I have found that
my articles/papers on Katzarah and other schemes have not been studied in
details. Therefore the two days discussion was all vague and flying. Correct conclusion
cannot be drawn.
It is pointed out that in IRSA Act, the Chairman WAPDA is
made ex-officio Member IRSA. This naturally means he should be technical man to
actively participate in all such vital technical discussions on projects
costing $ billions. On the completion of term of the present Chairman, the next
Chairman should be an experienced technical person. In my opinion, I consider
Riaz Ahmad Khan Technical Advisor to WAPDA as the most suitable man for the job.
Let Foreign Consultant give advice on these projects. They
should be asked to further improve these. I give only the project concept which
may further be improved. My figures are very rough and needs investigation and
confirmation. All technical details of
projects may be investigated by the consultants.
Storage problem in Indus Waters Treaty due
to silting
How much live storage under definitions is created by
India in 32 hydraulic structures under the Indus Waters Treaty
The Foreign Ministry of Pakistan may request the Government
of India to let us know the aggregate quantity of live storage created in maf on
the 32 hydraulic projects under the technical definition in Appendix-D, that
is, Live storage water under Pondage,
Surcharge storage as floodwater storage, storage created under the run-of-river
including pondage storage and operating pool live storage.
The gross replacement storage of Tarbela and Mangla
Reservoirs built under the Indus Water Treaty, lost about 6.5 maf storage due
to rapid silting. The storage were created to compensate for the loss of
perennial water diverted by India from the canals in Eastern Punjab. The lost
storage needs replenishment otherwise the Treaty would become inefficacious.
India may be request under the Treaty to pay the cost for creating replacement
storage or contribute as before.
The above two basic issues that is, silting of reservoirs and storage created under technical definitions
escaped un-noticed so far, may please be clarified in a spirit of love and
mutual respect. Senator John Kerry report arouses sense of danger.
Senator John Kerry Report to US senate, India
stored enough water to limit the supply of water to Pakistan
Senator John Kerry report to US Senate created alarm. It
appears India has created enough water to harm Pakistan at critical moment in
the growing season. Furthermore, John Kerry has shown fear of water war to
congress. An excerpt from John Kerry report is reproduced.
“India has acquired the ability to store
enough water to limit the supply of water to Pakistan at critical moment in the
growing season”.
The above statement is extremely political with far reaching
consequences. Every word is full of meanings that need political and technical
analysis. The Foreign Ministry and our legal experts may study this statement.
We want to know live storage created under the definition of terms in view of
John Kerry report and the various reports from media showing water war by using
water as weapon of mass destruction by creating famine like situation in
Pakistan..
Engr Fateh ullah khan
Gandapur
Former Chairman IRSA.
Mobile 0300-5920641 June 9, 2012
Copy to;
Secretary Ministry of
Water and Power, Islamabad for information. The situation is brought to his
notice for guidance and decision. Government decision is required to proceed
further. WAPDA head quarter may be shifted to Islamabad to work in close
coordination with IRSA and other professional organizations at Islamabad.
Chairman IRSA Islamabad for expressing Authority views to
the Government. Water regulation and its management and distribution fall under
the jurisdiction of IRSA. These schemes are part of water regulation.
Minister for Water and power for information. He may decide
to appoint foreign consultants to give pre-feasibility reports on at least four
projects. Moreover, WAPDA may be directed not to frighten the people of
Northern area. WAPDA is implanting controversy for Katzarah Dam. WAPDA did the
same for KBD.
Copy to; All Members of
the committee for information and offering written views